Baristas and Espresso

Coffee Roasters • Coffee Grinders • Coffee Delivery

Coffee Brewing • Coffee Baristas • Coffee Varieties

An espresso drink is any type of drink that contains espresso, which is a strong, undiluted black coffee that is made by forcing steam through ground coffee beans.  Espresso coffee drinks are quite varied; they can be hot or cold, iced or blended, and can include or not include steamed milk.  Espresso drinks are only limited by the barista's imagination — typical espresso drinks might include flavorings like chocolate, while one very creative espresso drink calls for flavoring with maple syrup and bacon!

Regardless of what ingredients the espresso coffee drink is made with, the most important ingredient is always the espresso.  If the quality of the espresso is not good, it's a fair bet that the espresso drink won't be good either.  Because coffee has a shelf life and is not fresh beyond a certain point in time, most baristas buy and brew only what they can use within one week.

It does not take any special aptitude to become a good barista, and while education is important, formal schooling is not.  Anyone who loves coffee and espresso and is passionate about learning more can become a good barista.

In order to brew the perfect cup of coffee or espresso, a barista must learn about where coffee comes from, how it is grown, and how certain blends and roasts should be treated.  Baristas are aware of exactly how certain coffees and espressos should taste; they also know the ins and outs of all the brewing and grinding equipment that is necessary to transform coffee beans into a terrific hot beverage.  The American Barista & Coffee School, located in Portland, Oregon, and the Seattle Barista Academy, located in Renton, Washington, offer training for budding baristas and coffee business entrepreneurs.

What tools does a barista need?  Baristas who plan on using espresso will need to invest in a home espresso machine or a smaller professional espresso machine.  Those who are very serious about their coffee or who frequently entertain and like to serve espresso-based coffee drinks may want to invest in a single-group commercial machine.  Other tools you'll need include:

• A grinder for transforming whole beans into grinds.
• Steaming pitchers for pouring foam and milk.
• Clear shot glasses, so you can see the espresso as it pours.
• A steaming thermometer to ensure that the milk doesn't burn.
• A tamper, for pressing ground coffee into the filter.
• A knock box, for collecting spent grounds.
• An inventory of beautiful cups, saucers, spoons, glasses, and designer mugs for presentation.

Coffee Baristas and Espresso Drinks